THE HOT HUNDRED GRAND CAPER and THE DICK FOLEY CAPER ADVENTURES OF SAM SPADE

Summary

---

1001 Radio Crime Solvers – "The Hot Hundred Grand Caper" & "The Dick Foley Caper"

Podcast: 1001 Radio Crime Solvers
Host: Jon Hagadorn
Featured Series: The Adventures of Sam Spade
Original Air Date (Radio Drama): September 19, 1948
Podcast Release: February 22, 2026
Episode Length: ~1 hr

---

Brief Overview

This episode of 1001 Radio Crime Solvers presents two full classic episodes from The Adventures of Sam Spade, the iconic hard-boiled detective drama. The stories, “The Hot Hundred Grand Caper” and “The Dick Foley Caper,” are brimming with witty repartee, moral ambiguity, tangled relationships, and razor-sharp dialogue, immersing listeners in the seedy underbelly of postwar San Francisco. Sam Spade's cases take him through high-stakes gambling dens, betrayals among old friends, blackmail, murder, and, as always, a touch of romance.

---

The Hot Hundred Grand Caper

(Begins at 03:37)

Case Opening

• Client: “Lorraine Kilcorse” (though her identity will be questioned).
• Lorraine, well-dressed and apparently wealthy, hires Sam Spade to tail her husband Leonard Kilcorse, whom she suspects is paying blackmail.
  • Quote:
    “Well, she dropped her purse. I didn’t get time to count it all, but there was a hundred dollar bill on top.” —Effie, [04:15]
• Leonard, an older city contractor, has been withdrawing enormous sums: $10,000, then $20,000, then $50,000, finally $100,000.
• Lorraine provides her “brother’s” car, asks Sam to keep her posted privately.

Sam’s Underlying Suspicion

• Spade is wary; Effie also feels Lorraine’s “act is a little too good.”
  • “You mean her act is a little too good?” —Spade, [04:41]
  • “I felt that too, Sam.” —Effie

---

Following the Money

• Sam tails Leonard to Ernie Nogales’s Racket Club, a flashy Marin County gambling den.
  • “The racket had nothing to do with tennis.” —Spade’s narration, [09:05]
• Leonard blows his $100,000 at the roulette tables in just a few spins. The staff (and Spade) suspect he’s intentionally losing the money.
  • “I would have made a side bet with any taker that Kilcorse wanted to lose that hundred bucks.” —Sam, [11:36]

---

The Real Game

• Sam reports back to Lorraine at her apartment. Her “brother” Tommy is present and dismissed.

• Twists mount: Lorraine admits more layers—Nogales is blackmailing not Leonard, but really her brother Tommy, a recent ex-con she’s anxious to protect.

• Lorraine proposes Sam “prove the roulette wheel’s crooked” to stop Nogales, offering money for him to gamble for evidence.

• Their conversation spins with innuendo and sarcasm:

  • “About your brother.”
  • “How did you know?”
    —Sam & Lorraine, [15:55]

• Sam returns to the club, wins back the $100K at the tables by reverse-engineering the wheel, and tries to engineer a safe getaway.

---

Unraveling the Scheme

• In a face-off with Nogales, Sam deciphers the real scam: Tommy, while in prison for Kilcorse, is being bought off with the rigged roulette wheel, turning ill-gotten gains into a ‘clean’ payout.

  • “Private Dick. Tommy’s sister hired me to take the fall for him.” —Sam, [22:57]
  • “Kilcorse wanted to pay Tommy 100 grand. You rigged the wheel … what was Kilcorse paying him off for?” —Sam, [23:13]

• Lorraine’s real identity emerges; she’s not Kilcorse’s wife, but Tommy’s sister, involved to keep her brother safe.

• Sam outmaneuvers all parties by returning the money to Kilcorse—now revealed as stolen payroll (marked bills)—setting up Kilcorse’s downfall.

---

Key Moment

• “It’ll send him up for a good long stretch if the eyewitness story that goes along with it is good enough. And you’re just the girl to tell it, sweetheart. Am I right, Tommy?” —Sam, [26:40]

Coda

• Effie puzzles over Sam’s ironies and unspoken intuitions:
  • “Simple. Kilcors doesn’t recognize her.” —Sam, [28:35]
  • The final sharp exchange about lying and truth ties the case off with Sam’s classic blend of skepticism and gallows humor.

---

The Dick Foley Caper

(Begins at 33:34)

Case Opening

• Sam is called to give a statement on the death of Dick Foley, a fellow private detective and old friend, whose complex past comes to haunt the present.
• Backstory: Dick’s history as half of a PI duo, his partner (Mickey Linehan) killed years ago, now married to “Maxine,” a beautiful former actress.

Friendship Tested

• “You don’t make any friends in this business, Effie.” —Sam, [33:05]
• Sam finds Dick in his office, nervous about Claude Spicer, an ex-con released after a heist five years prior.
• The past: Dick’s partner had been the “inside man” on the heist; Dick helped cover it up to protect Maxine, who was also involved.

---

The Triangle Emerges

• Maxine, now Dick’s wife, was once Spicer’s girl and possibly connected to the murder of Mickey Linehan. Motives entwine love, betrayal, and blackmail.
• Sam tailing Spicer observes Maxine and Spicer together, apparently planning another jewelry heist.

Memorable Quote

• “Why do you keep looking at me?”
• “Sorry. Trying to place you, Maxine. I keep thinking I’ve seen you someplace before.” —Sam, [40:28]

---

The Murder and the Chase

• Spicer is killed on an Oakland ferry after meeting a shadowy man—revealed in a tense confrontation to be Dick Foley himself.
• “What did you do it for, Dick?” —Sam, [46:44]
• Dick tries to cover for Maxine, but Sam refuses to lie:
  • “I’ve worked for killers before. I’ve even worked for thieves. But not for a detective that knocks over a place he’s supposed to be protecting.” —Sam, [47:03]
• In a struggle, Dick throws the gun overboard and attempts suicide by jumping off the ferry, with Sam pulled over too.

---

The Aftermath

• Sam survives his plunge and methodically lays out the tangled extortion:
  • Dick had shielded Maxine years ago; Spicer blackmailed them into another heist; Maxine ultimately killed Spicer; Dick tried to take the fall.
  • “Were you there?” —Sam, [53:58]
• The proof: a paint smear on Maxine’s coat links her physically to the ferry and murder scene. Sam and the police squeeze out confessions with legal legerdemain and moral pressure.
• Maxine confesses, but only to try to protect Dick, who finally gives himself up when confronted with evidence.
• “You were Dick’s friend. You were his friend.” —Effie, [54:11]

---

Case Closure

• Sam recounts the full chain of deception to Effie, reflecting on the corrosive nature of their business and the sad end of “the friendship” with Dick Foley.
  • “His mistake, Effie, was trying a quadruple play which has never been heard of in the history of baseball or crime. All he wanted was to bat Maxine home safe. But it usually figures when three men are out the side retires.” —Sam, [60:02]
• The closing notes linger on the ambiguities of loyalty, love, and justice in the hard-boiled world.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sam’s Wry Wisdom:

  • “Horses, women, and the gaming tables, Effie—the diversions of the elite.” —Sam, [01:47]
  • “No, no, that’s one of the reasons I hire you. What’s the matter with her?” —Sam, [04:29]

• Effie’s Skepticism:

  • “But, Sam, Sherlock Holmes is only the segment of someone’s imagination. He’s a fictional detective.” —Effie, [27:26]

• The Classic Noir Tone:

  • “Everybody reminds you of your relatives.” —Sam, [17:25]
  • “I’ve worked for killers before. I’ve even worked for thieves. But not for a detective that knocks over a place he’s supposed to be protecting.” —Sam, [47:03]

• Baseball Motif:

  • “His mistake, Effie, was trying a quadruple play which has never been heard of in the history of baseball or crime.” —Sam, [60:02]

---

Key Timestamps

• [03:37] — Start of The Hot Hundred Grand Caper
• [09:32] — Sam tails Kilcorse to Nogales’ club
• [14:16] — Sam reports back to Lorraine/first big twist
• [15:55] — Sam confronts Lorraine about Tommy
• [22:09] — Sam’s showdown with Nogales
• [26:40] — Sam returns money, sets up Kilcorse’s downfall
• [33:34] — Start of The Dick Foley Caper
• [36:18] — Sam meets Foley and Maxine
• [40:28] — Sam recognizes Maxine’s past
• [46:40] — Murder confrontation on the ferry
• [47:17] — Sam and Dick overboard
• [53:55] — Sam finds Dick’s confession
• [56:34] — Dick finally admits Maxine’s guilt
• [58:21] — Epilogue on Dick Foley’s fate

---

Tone and Style

The radio drama, as presented, is brisk, wisecracking, world-weary, yet underwritten by an unmistakable moral code. Sam Spade’s narration is both sardonic and poetic, alternating between bitter wisecracks and personal confession. Effie, the loyal secretary, serves as both sidekick and shrewd audience surrogate, alternating concern and incredulity.

The dialogue is sharp, loaded with subtext, and classic noir metaphors. The mood is carried by jazz-infused orchestration and the hustle of mid-century San Francisco.

---

For New Listeners

• Both capers stand as quintessential examples of radio’s “golden age” detective fiction: tight plotting, whirlwind character turns, and the moral ambiguity that defines noir.
• Expect double-dealing, mistaken identities, dangerous women, and a hero who’s too clever for his own good.
• The cases resolve not so much by hard evidence as by Sam Spade’s instincts, intuition—and his ability to see through everyone’s story, except perhaps his own.
• This episode serves as both a nostalgia trip and a timeless plunge into crime story classics.

---

Transcript

[Narrator/Announcer]

Ever notice how ads always pop up at the worst moments when the killer's identity is about to be revealed during that perfect meditation flow On Amazon Music, we believe in keeping you in the moment. That's why we've got millions of ad free podcast episodes so you can stay completely immersed in every story, every reveal, every breath. Download the Amazon music app and start listening to your favorite podcasts. Ad free included with Prime.

[Safeway/Albertsons Advertiser]

Safeway and Albertsons have made saving easier than ever with great savings on family favorites this week at Safeway and Albertsons. USDA choice beef, boneless, tri tip, whole or flank and style ribs bone in are $6.99 per pound member price and asparagus or $1.99 per pound member price plus 16 ounces strawberries, 6 ounces raspberries or blackberries are 197 each. Limit three member price with digital coupon. Hurry in. These deals won't last. Visit Safeway or albertsons.com for more deals and ways to save.

[Sam Spade]

Welcome back everyone to 1001 radio crime solvers.

[Narrator/Announcer]

This is your host, John Hagedorn.

[Sam Spade]

And now, the Adventures of Sam Spade.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Enjoy the Adventures of Sam Spade Detective brought to you by Wild Root Cream Oil Hair Tonic, the non alcoholic hair tonic that contains lanolin. Wild Root Cream Oil again and again, the choice of men who put good grooming first.

[Effie]

Sam Spade Detective Agency.

[Sam Spade]

This is Sam Blackleg Spade, the third most dangerous gambler on the Barbary Coast.

[Effie]

Oh, Sam, not horses again.

[Sam Spade]

Horses, women and the gaming tables Evie the versions of the elite.

[Effie]

Well, divert yourself with this, Sam. The phone company has sent the pink notice.

[Sam Spade]

Aha. Pay it no mind, sweetheart. We are healed. We have hit the cashier's cage, annexed the pot, and we're standing on velvet.

[Effie]

Sam, are you sober?

[Sam Spade]

Definitely. Velvet warm too.

[Effie]

Sam, from where are you calling from?

[Sam Spade]

You're wrong, Effie. It's a drugstore. Stay where you are. I'll be right down to deal out my report on the hot hundred grand capers.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Dashiell Hammett, America's leading detective fiction writer and creator of Sam Spade, the Hard Boiled Private Eye, and William Spear, radio's outstanding producer director of mystery and crime drama. Join their talents to make your hair stand on end with the Adventures of Sam Spade presented by the makers of Wild Root Cream Oil for the hair. It's smart to buy things the whole family can use, isn't it? That's why I say it's smart to buy Wild Root Cream Oil Hair tonic. To mom, to dad, to the children. Wild Root Cream Oil Is really a friend indeed. Non alcoholic Wild Root Cream Oil with lanolin. Grooms the hair neatly and naturally relieves dryness, removes loose, ugly dandruff. I hope you have a big family sized bottle of Wild Root Cream Oil in your home. Get Wildroot Cream Oil Hair tonic. Again and again, the choice of men who put good grooming first. And now, with Howard Duff starring as Spade Wildroot brings to the air the greatest private detective of them all. In the Adventures of Sam Spade.

[Sam Spade]

Date September 19, 1948 to robbery detail, San Francisco Police. Attention. Sergeant Walsh. From Samuel Spade license number 137596. Dear Joe, here's the rundown on that hot hundred grand. It started pleasantly enough when my secretary, Ms. Effie. Cute little mouse. Eased into my private office, closed the door behind her and leaned back against it with that air of pained resignation, which generally means, as a customer outside, that she doesn't approve of, but that I'll see her anyway.

[Effie]

It's up to you, Sam. She's very well dressed and I imagine she can afford you.

[Sam Spade]

How do you deduce that?

[Effie]

Well, she dropped her purse. I didn't get time to count it all. But there was a hundred dollar bill on top.

[Sam Spade]

Well, sure. In Effie.

[Effie]

Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Go ahead, Sam.

[Effie]

Oh, I don't know, Sam. Sometimes. Well, there's just money.

[Sam Spade]

No, no, that's one of the reasons I hire you. What's the matter with her?

[Effie]

Nothing. That's just it, Sam. She's very good looking, cultivated and very kind and considerate. And she seems sincerely troubled.

[Sam Spade]

You mean her act is a little too good?

[Effie]

I felt that too, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Thanks, angel. I'll keep that in mind. Tell her to come in.

[Effie]

All right, Sam. Mr. Spade will see you, Mrs. Kilcorse. Thank you.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Spade.

[Sam Spade]

My pleasure. Won't you sit down?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Oh, thank you. I'm Lorraine Kilcorse, Mr. Spade. It's about my husband, Leonard Kilcorse.

[Sam Spade]

Husband?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Oh, we've only been married a short time. It was a quiet ceremony at the San Sidro Mission. Leonard didn't want to subject me to any publicity. The difference in our ages, you know.

[Sam Spade]

You mean you want me to keep it a secret?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Oh, no, no. Except for the newspapers, of course. Naturally. All of Leonard's friends know he doesn't

[Sam Spade]

have many, from what I've heard.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

I thought it strange, too, that such a prominent man should have such a small circle of acquaintances. I met him only a short time before I married him. He's been very kind and absolutely devoted to me. And I suppose I should feel ashamed of myself for coming to you, but there are so many things about him that are mysterious that I. Sometimes I can't seem to find my handkerchief.

[Ernie Nogales]

Here.

[Sam Spade]

Kleenex.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you.

[Sam Spade]

I take it you're not a San Francisco girl.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

No, no, I met him at a Jude Ranch.

[Sam Spade]

Well, maybe I can clear up some of your mysteries for free. The reason your husband doesn't have many friends is because they keep dropping dead.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

I don't understand you.

[Sam Spade]

Forget it. He's a big public servant. He's built a lot of sidewalks. The streets of this city are paid with his good intentions. His name is on a thousand manhole covers. If the names of his former business associates land on headstones, it's nothing to me. I got my own racket. Well, what?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

I think my husband is paying blackmail to someone.

[Sam Spade]

Aha. And upon what do you base your suspicions, Mrs. King?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

It started about a month ago. He began withdrawing large sums from our joint account. First it was 10,000.

[Effie]

Then.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Then 20,000. And last week, 50,000. And this morning he closed out the balance of the account, $100,000.

[Sam Spade]

Well, he's got it to spend, Mrs. Kilcourt.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Well, I won't pretend the money doesn't interest me, but what's behind it, Mr. Spade? Each time he withdraws these cash sums, he leaves the house without a word to me and sometimes doesn't return until dawn. My husband is not fond of nightlife, Mr. Spade. Only a desperate situation could induce him to leave the house after dark.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, so I've heard. They say that's how he kept his health as long as he has. All right, you want me to trail him, find out what he does with the money. Just one question. Why'd you pick me for the job?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

I. Why, Your reputation.

[Sam Spade]

That's local. You say you're new in San Francisco?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Well, I. I do read the local papers. Your picture was in only two weeks ago.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, well, that caver doesn't help my reputation.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

I like your looks. A nice, honest face, a man I could trust.

[Sam Spade]

Don't buy that.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

And I'm sentimental, too. Your picture reminded me of someone who was very dear to me. My brother. Of course. You are nothing like him, really, but. But you do look alike. I suppose that sounds like a silly woman's reason.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah. What's your address?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Well, I have a little place of my own out on Divisidero. The Bellevo Apartments near Normandy Terrace. You'd better keep in touch with me there. I don't want Leonard to Know the kill? Course. Mansion is at 1316 Clarendon.

[Sam Spade]

1316.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

He returns from his office around 6 in the evening. Do you have a car?

[Sam Spade]

No. I need one.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Well, I don't know where he may go now. Here are the keys to my car. It's parked in front of the main entrance. A gray Plymouth. He won't recognize the car. It's my brother's. Now, about your fee.

[Sam Spade]

100 bucks. Now if I need more, I'll leave. You know, I had an uneasy feeling I would need more. The last detective that tried to follow Leonard Kilcors had hospital insurance. I don't. But I'm a gambler at heart. So I parked Lorraine's Plymouth across the street from the Kilcore mansion and waited. At 9pm then Mr. Kilcorse, much, much too old for her, came out the front door and flagged down a taxi. I made an illegal U turn and followed. The trail ended across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County. It was a country club type building on top of a hill overlooking the bay. It did business under the name of Ernie Nogales Racket Club. The racket had nothing to do with tennis. It came from two sources. The moans and groans of the customers losing money at the roulette wheels and crap tables and the glad hand the management threw at my quarry as I followed him in.

[Ernie Nogales]

Mr. Kilcore, surprised to see you. Since when you go out of the dark?

[Leonard Kilcorse]

Well, I thought a little nightlife might agree with me.

[Ernie Nogales]

That sounds like you, Mr. Kilco. I didn't know you better. I think he was afraid to go out night.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

Well now, I was thinking of buying this place to retire to, but I figured it'd be cheaper to win it at your roulette table. What's your limit here?

[Ernie Nogales]

10,000. But for you, wide open the sky.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

A hot hundred grand for a starter.

[Ernie Nogales]

Well, anytime they catch you with hot money, Mr. Kilcore, come over to the cashier. I sell you the chips myself.

[Sam Spade]

I didn't have to bother making myself inconspicuous. Everybody in the joint stopped playing to watch Kilcorse while he shoved his hundred grand roll through the cash and scooped up four stacks of thousand buck chips. Make your bets, please.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

All right, you spin that wheel, huh?

[Dick Foley]

How much you got there?

[Leonard Kilcorse]

25 grand. Any objections?

[Sam Spade]

Is that okay, Mr. Nogales?

[Ernie Nogales]

Spinach o. I'm covering through the table, Percy.

[Dick Foley]

Okay, sir.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

Around and round the little ball goes

[Sam Spade]

15 pace 15 and the red.

[Ernie Nogales]

Maybe next time, Mr. Kirko. Why don't you double up, Play the red and the black.

[Sam Spade]

Saber.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

I'll stay with the numbers. 50,000 on 15.

[Narrator/Announcer]

There.

[Sam Spade]

Spin it.

[Ernie Nogales]

It's okay, Joe. I'm still covering.

[Sam Spade]

Well, it's your money, Mr. Nogales. Number four, page number four. And the red again.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

25 grand more on 15.

[Ernie Nogales]

Look, Mr. Kilco, go on, enjoy yourself. Taking off your income tax. But please spend those. Spread them out a little there. Those chips, huh? It looks bad for the house.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

What kind of a joint is this? Can't you cover the bets?

[Ernie Nogales]

Okay, Joe. He asked for it.

[Dick Foley]

Okay, sir.

[Sam Spade]

I didn't wait to see where the little ball went on the last spin of the wheel. I would have made a side bet with any taker that Kilcorse wanted to lose that hundred bucks. I would also have made book. He knew I was following him. As I left the table and walked out of the club, I braced myself for what usually comes next. There would either be a dead body in the car or somebody would crease my noggin with a SAP. But nothing happened. I switched on the headlights and stood in the glare of them for fully a minute. But nobody even shot at me. I flushed the shrubbery. No gunman checked the ignition wires. No booby traps. Driving back to town, I racked my brain for some way to bring them out into the open. I felt like a man with his life savings, all on one number, waiting for the wheel to stop spinning. Which wasn't far from the truth. Not much of a cliffhanger, but the best we could do. This week,

[Narrator/Announcer]

The makers of Wild Root Cream oil are presenting the weekly Sunday adventure of Dashiell Hammett's famous private detective, Sam Spade. Now here's important news on good grooming. If you want the well groomed look that helps you get ahead socially and on the job, listen. Recently, thousands of people from coast to coast who bought wild Root Cream oil for the first time were asked, how does wild root cream oil compare with the hair tonic you previously used? The results were amazing. Better than four out of five who replied said they preferred wild Root cream oil. Remember, non alcoholic wild root cream oil contains lanolin. It grooms the hair naturally, relieves dryness and removes loose, ugly dandruff. So if you want your hair to be more attractive than ever before, get the generous new 25 cent size of Wild Root Cream Oil, America's leading hair tonic. On sale at all drug and toilet goods counters. It's also available in larger economy bottles and the handy new tube. Get Wild Root Cream Oil again and again. The choice of men who put good grooming first by the way, smart girls use wild root cream oil too and mothers say it's grand for training children's hair. And now back to the hot hundred grand caper. Tonight's adventure with Sam Spade.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah? This Mrs. Kilcos's apartment? Yeah. She here? Yeah. Well, can I come in?

[Ernie Nogales]

Yeah.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Tommy?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Who is that? Mr. Spade?

[Sam Spade]

Yeah.

[Effie]

Oh, this is.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

This is the detective I was telling you about, Tommy. Remember?

[Sam Spade]

Yeah.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

The one who looked so much like you.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah. No.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Oh, excuse me. This is my brother, Tommy Lane.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, I mean Tommy.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Won't you run down to the corner and buy me some cigarettes for about 20 minutes? I have something to talk over with Mr. Spade.

[Ernie Nogales]

Yeah,

[Sam Spade]

Nice boy, your brother. Small vocabulary, but big feet.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Well, he. He's shy. Now, what did you find out about Mr. My husband, Mr. Spade.

[Sam Spade]

He dropped 100 grand in a gambling joint. Ernie Nogales Racket club. You know it?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

No, but I know Ernie Nogales. I knew him in Reno before I met Leonard. He lost his license there for running a crooked wheel.

[Sam Spade]

The way Kilcorse was playing tonight, that wheel didn't have to be crooked. He was trying to lose that hundred grand.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

But why? Why would he do a thing like that?

[Sam Spade]

One of two reasons. Either he's paying off to Nogales or he's paying off to somebody else. And Nogales is the go between.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Well, I don't believe it. Ernie is a crooked gambler, but he doesn't touch blackmail.

[Sam Spade]

And your husband isn't stupid enough to drop a hundred grand in three turns of a wheel. Anyway, I'm not tangling with him and or the Ernie Nogales mob for a hundred bucks of your money or anybody else's. Here, take it. And here are your car keys.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

No, no, wait, please. You can't desert me now.

[Sam Spade]

Why not?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Well, I haven't told you everything. I'd hoped I wouldn't have to.

[Sam Spade]

About your brother.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

How did you know?

[Sam Spade]

The only place you get a green suntan is in a pokey. Besides, he acts kind of stir crazy. Spent a little time in solitary, didn't he?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

He won't talk about it. But that's it, Sam. That's why Leonard is paying that blackmail money to Nogales.

[Sam Spade]

You just said Nogales wouldn't touch blackmail. Any other corrections you'd like to make in your copy before we proceed?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Yes. Well, I might as well tell you everything.

[Sam Spade]

Why not?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

I knew when I came to you this morning that my husband was paying this money to Nogales. I knew because I asked him to

[Sam Spade]

you and Ernie Nogales are working together.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

I'm not that rotten.

[Sam Spade]

I didn't say you were. But you're a rotten liar. There's that much in your favor.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

But I'm telling the truth. Now, Sam, you must believe me. Everything that has happened is my fault. I persuaded Nogales to give my brother a job in his place in Reno. They quarreled, and when he got closed down, he blamed Tommy. He swore he'd kill him when he got out of prison. That's why I begged my husband to pay him to save Tommy's life.

[Sam Spade]

Who did write on Nogales about that crooked wheel at Reno?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

I did. That's why I feel responsible. Leonard is so fine, so. So generous. But I can't let him go on paying for my mistake.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah. Like you said, he's gonna run out of money.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Look at me, Sam. Do I look like the kind of a woman to whom money means everything in the world?

[Sam Spade]

No, but you're looking at me, not at Kilcors.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

You're laughing at me. Oh, I know what you think. Perhaps I did make a mistake in marrying Leonard. But he was so kind, so considerate, like my father.

[Sam Spade]

Everybody reminds you of your relatives.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

You don't believe my story?

[Sam Spade]

Wow. Since you asked.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Well, all right, then. Here's the truth. I'm really Jack the Ripper's granddaughter. My parents were terribly wealthy. I harpooned my mother in her Beverly Hills swimming pool, set fire to my father with a $50,000 negotiable bond and eloped with John Wilkes Booth. That brings us up to 1865. Shall I go on?

[Sam Spade]

Don't stop. It's great.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Oh, get out of here. Get out of here and leave me alone.

[Sam Spade]

After you've told me all your secrets. I'm not that rotten.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

You won't help me. You never intended to. Why go on torturing?

[Sam Spade]

Oh, now, stop it, please. Please. I believe you. I believe all your stories. Now, what is my next smart move?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Sam, the only way to stop Ernie Nogales is to prove that he's running a crooked wheel. Then he'd pay back all that blackmail money, and he wouldn't dare lay a hand on Tommy.

[Sam Spade]

Well, it's going to be hard to prove. And expensive. I'll have to lose a little on that wheel before I can figure the way it's rigged. How much can you invest?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Well, I. I have about a thousand dollars of my own.

[Sam Spade]

With you.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Yes. Here, you take it.

[Sam Spade]

Mmm. Smells nice.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Sam, after all this is over, and after I've put Things to right with Leonard. I should have told him before this, but I owed him so much, I. Oh, Sam, I'm so glad it's you.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, me too, angel.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Go now, darling, before I beg you not to.

[Sam Spade]

What time does that joint close?

[Effie]

Well.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Well, it runs all night, I think.

[Dick Foley]

Good.

[Sam Spade]

Let's stay up late and raid the icebo. Around 2 in the AM when I low geared the Plymouth up the long, steep driveway to Ernie Nogales Racket club. Backed into the parking space nearest the road with a car headed downhill for a quick getaway just in case. And I went in. The joint was still going full blast. I bought 500 bucks worth of chips, swag it over to the table where Kilcors had dropped his hundred grand and nonchalantly flipped the blue chip onto the red.

[Dick Foley]

Appellee Chabet, ladies and gentlemen. Make your game.

[Sam Spade]

Okay, that's all.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

Around and round the little ball goes.

[Sam Spade]

I didn't look to see where the little ball went. Most of the money was on red, so it was bound to turn up black. A red page, number 15.

[Dick Foley]

Place your bets, please. Make your game, ladies and gentlemen.

[Ernie Nogales]

Around.

[Sam Spade]

The chips were spread around more the next turn. So I stacked 100 at the bottom of the 1 to 34 column. With a crooked wheel, my hundred made it the best bet. The loser and 19.

[Dick Foley]

And the red wins again.

[Sam Spade]

I plunked 500 down on number five and raked in 17,500. I left my original bet on the table. When the little ball fell into the pocket. I was 35,000 bucks to the good from my point of view, but not from my clients. I doubled my bet and looked apprehensively around. There were no surly characters edging up behind me. In fact, the only surly character in sight was Ernie Nogales. And he looked happy. That didn't make much sense. When my Bankroll got to 105,000, I played a hunch. I threw five grand of it back on the table and lost it. That made a kind of sense. I cashed in the rest of my chips and squeezed the 100 grand US currency into my inside pocket. If anybody aim for my heart, it was thick enough to stop the slug, which was some comfort. But what I saw when I walked out to the parking lot was no comfort at all. I'd gotten just a glimpse of it through some trees. A sedan backed into a driveway halfway down the hill. It was blacked out except for five glowing cigar ends that showed through the windows. I could think of only one reason for five cigar smokers to be parked in that particular spot at that particular moment. The Plymouth is where I had parked it, pointing straight down the hill. I slammed the door but didn't get in. Then I listened. The car down the hill was getting ready too. I cracked the door of the Plymouth wide enough to get my arm inside and pressed the starter with the heel of my hand. I switched on the lights, pushed the clutch with my left hand, used my right to shift it into low. Then I pulled the hand throttle out all the way and let it go.

[Ernie Nogales]

What's the big idea busting into my office?

[Sam Spade]

We're gonna have a talk.

[Ernie Nogales]

Now, Gallus, please don't wave that heater at me. Makes me nervous. I don't like guns.

[Sam Spade]

I don't either. That's why I'm here. Put your hands on top of the desk and keep them there.

[Ernie Nogales]

All right. Give me back that roll. I give you clean money for. It was a gamble, so I lost. Can you blame me?

[Sam Spade]

Where'd you get this money?

[Ernie Nogales]

I buy it.50 cents on the dollar. I don't ask where it came from, but I read the papers. I figured it was that ship row, that shipyard payroll job a few days back. Like it just fell in my lap. I figured, make 50 grand instead of kill. Course five. I guess that was dirty trick. You just out of stir, Thomas?

[Sam Spade]

I had news for you, Nogales. I didn't know this money was hot. And I am not Tommy Lane.

[Ernie Nogales]

No? Then what?

[Sam Spade]

Private Dick. Tommy's sister hired me to take the fall for him. Look, I got most of the caper. Kilcors wanted to pay Tommy 100 grand. You rigged the wheel so Kilcos would lose it one night and Tommy would win it back the next night. Now, what was Kilcors paying him off for?

[Ernie Nogales]

No caper. Legitimate. He was signed up for bribing a public official.

[Sam Spade]

You mean he was the payoff man for Killcourse's contracting firm? Sure.

[Ernie Nogales]

Legitimate business. The grand jury went out after Kilcorse. Tommy took the rap, that's all. For a price.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah. 100 grand. Thanks, Nogales. That's all I needed.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

I was afraid I might be too late.

[Sam Spade]

You are, sweetheart.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Oh, I have so many things to explain. Where can you talk?

[Sam Spade]

Right in here.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

But who's this man?

[Sam Spade]

Why, that's your old sweetie from Reno. Earning the gallows, remember?

[Ernie Nogales]

What's the matter with you two? You crazy?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Oh, Sam, I should have told you the truth from the beginning.

[Sam Spade]

Check. Well, Nogales, Jan, I can understand. Why did you tell me you were killed? Kors? Wife.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

I was desperate. I had to say something. It was the only explanation I could think of for my interest in this case without telling the truth.

[Sam Spade]

But you were making a pigeon out of me.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

I don't know about such things, Sam. All I know is I'm here in time to warn you. You mustn't walk out of here with that money. They may kill you to get it back.

[Sam Spade]

They already did. They're combing the wreckage of that car right now looking for my body.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Then Tommy was right. They did mean to kill him.

[Sam Spade]

How'd he get the rumble while he was in prison?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

From another man that killed course framed. He was in for life so it was safe for him to talk.

[Sam Spade]

Hey, you're Gallas.

[Ernie Nogales]

That Carter they just drove up. I think that's Mr. Kilco.

[Sam Spade]

What's your hurry?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Don't let me go.

[Sam Spade]

Come on. What's your hurry?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Tommy's out there in that cab. I've got to warn him.

[Sam Spade]

Or a tip off kill course. Which is it?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

No, Sam, you've got to believe me.

[Sam Spade]

Sit down. Stop that.

[Ernie Nogales]

You two have fun.

[Sam Spade]

I'm getting out of here. Go ahead. Now listen, sweet Lorraine, you may as well save your breath for those explanations. You're staying right here until the Cape is all wrapped up.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Here he comes. Have you got a gun, Sam?

[Sam Spade]

Yeah.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Well, you'd better have it ready. But Sam, there's no goddess.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

I want to see him.

[Sam Spade]

He was called out of town, sir. I'm in charge. You must have killed Cors.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

That's right. I want to know why you people have been interfering with my business. It might interest you to know that this building site's on an old Spanish land grant. Title's very shaky. I'll run an eight lane highway straight through the middle of it and turn the rest of it into a game preserve. That's what I do to people who double cross me.

[Sam Spade]

I tried to tell Mr. Nogales that, sir. He wouldn't listen to me. He tipped Tommy off for a split of the hundred grand. But I knew sooner or later we'd have to answer to you, Mr. Kilcorse.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

Oh, what's that?

[Sam Spade]

Here's your hundred grand, sir. Count it.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Well, well, well, well.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

What's your name, son?

[Sam Spade]

Sam Spade, sir.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

I'm glad to meet an honest lad. Well, come along. You too, young lady. We'll all walk out together.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Sam, what are you? What?

[Leonard Kilcorse]

Spade, huh?

[Sam Spade]

Yes, sir. I'm a private detective, but I'm ambitious.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

Politics?

[Sam Spade]

Yes, sir.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

Well, we'll run you for assembly in the Meantime, I believe there's an opening in one of the public services. Garbage disposal, executive end, of course. Where the devil is that man with my car? Oh, there he is. You drop around to my office in the morning.

[Sam Spade]

Thank you and good night, Mr. Kilcox.

[Leonard Kilcorse]

Drive on, Horace, back to the city.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Oh, Sam, how could you? All those lies and just handing over the money like that. It wasn't yours.

[Sam Spade]

It wasn't Tommy's either, sweetheart. Get in.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Well, Tommy, are you all right?

[Ernie Nogales]

Yeah.

[Sam Spade]

Drive us across the bridge, Tommy, will you? Yeah.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Tommy.

[Ernie Nogales]

Yeah.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Tommy, I'm afraid we'll have to do without the money. Yeah, Sam gave it to Mr. Kilcorse.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Now, don't get excited, Tommy. I'm sure Sam had a reason. Didn't you, Sam?

[Sam Spade]

Yeah. I mean, that was marked money from a payroll job.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Oh, then it won't do him any good.

[Sam Spade]

It'll send him up for a good long stretch if the eyewitness story that goes along with it is good enough. And you're just the girl to tell it, sweetheart. Am I right, Tommy?

[Ernie Nogales]

Yeah.

[Sam Spade]

At end of report already.

[Effie]

But, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah?

[Effie]

What happened? Who were the five men in the car? The ones who shot at that Plymouth in the mistaken belief that you were in it?

[Sam Spade]

Their names are of little account, Effie. Suffice it to say that Kilcore pointed his pudgy finger at them in the hopes of keeping the charge of attempted murder out of his indictment. But I was too clever. I identified them.

[Effie]

But, Sam, you didn't see anything but their cigars glowing in the darkness.

[Sam Spade]

Have you never heard of Sherlock Holmes monograph and the 49 varieties of tobacco ash?

[Narrator/Announcer]

You fool.

[Effie]

But. But, Sam, Sherlock Holmes is only the segment of someone's imagination. He's a fictional detective.

[Sam Spade]

Well, you mean.

[Effie]

Oh, Sam, you're tired.

[Sam Spade]

Yes, I am.

[Effie]

It's affected your mind winning all that money. Now, you just sit here and rest, all right? Think of the snowy mountaintops and blue skies. I'll just go and tight this up.

[Sam Spade]

Snowy mountaintops. Winter sports yet.

[Narrator/Announcer]

And now listen to this. If you haven't yet tried Wild Root Cream Oil, the famous hair tonic that grooms your hair neatly and naturally relieves dryness and removes loose dandruff, then here's a wonderful way to get acquainted. Buy Wild Root Cream Oil in the new 25 cent size bottle at your drug or toilet goods counter. Also, ask your barber for a professional application of Wild Root Cream Oil Hair tonic. Again and again, the choice of men who put good grooming first.

[Effie]

Well, here it is, Sam. And not that it made any difference. But how did you guess that she wasn't Mrs. Kilcor's?

[Sam Spade]

Simple. Kilcorse doesn't recognize her.

[Effie]

But Sam, that was after you denounced her.

[Sam Spade]

I did no such thing.

[Effie]

From the report, Sam in black and white, quote, why did you tell me you were Kilcore's wife? Unquote. At that point, you assumed that she was not Mrs. Leonard Kilcor's.

[Sam Spade]

I did not. I merely wondered why she had told me.

[Effie]

Well, with all the lies she told, you might have assumed anything she said was totally devoid of truth.

[Sam Spade]

And I did, sweetheart. I did.

[Effie]

Oh. Oh, well, that's a relief. I was afraid for a while she'd taken you in.

[Sam Spade]

What's that got to do with the truth?

[Effie]

Good night, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Good night, sweetheart.

[Narrator/Announcer]

The adventures of Sam Spade, Dashiell Hammett's famous private detective, are produced and directed by William Spear. Sam Spade is played by Howard Duff. Loreen Tuttle is Effie. Sadie Thompson appeared as Lorraine Kilcourse. The adventures of Sam Spade are written for radio by Bob Tolman and Gil Dowd. Musical direction by Luck Gluskin. Score composed by Renee Garrick. Join us again next Sunday when author Dashiell Hammett and producer William Speer join forces for another adventure with Sam Spade, brought to you by Wild Root Cream Oil. Again and again, the choice of men who put good grooming first. This is Dick Joy reminding you to get Wild Root Cream oil, Charlie. It keeps your hair in trim. You see, it's non alcoholic, Charlie. It's made with soothing lanolin. You better get Wild Root Cream oil, Charlie. Start using it today. You'll find that you will have a tough time, Charlie, keeping all the gals away. Hiya, baldy. Get Wild Root right away. This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System.

Do you have $10,000 or more in credit card debt? Maybe you're even barely getting by making minimum payments. With credit card debt hitting record highs, National Debt Relief offers real debt relief solutions for people struggling to keep up. These options may reduce a large portion of credit card debt. For those who qualify. You don't need to declare bankruptcy, and you may be able to pay back less than you owe, regardless of your credit. National Debt Relief has already reduced the credit card debt for more than 550,000 consumers. So don't wait if you owe 10, 20, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in credit card debt, you can now take advantage of this financial debt relief as the cost of living increases. To find out how much you could save, visit nationaldebtrelief.com that's nationaldebtrelief.com let's talk groceries. Specifically your groceries. With Instacart, you want your groceries just the way you like them, right? Well, the Instacart app lets you do just that. They have a new preference picker that lets you pick how ripe or unripe you want your bananas. Shoppers can see your preferences up front, helping guide their choices. Instacart get groceries just how you like.

[Safeway/Albertsons Advertiser]

Safeway and Albertsons have made saving easier than ever with great savings on family favorites this week at Safeway and Albertsons. USDA Choice beef, boneless, tri tip, whole or flank and style ribs bone in are $6.99 per pound member price and asparagus or 199 per pound member price plus 16 ounce strawberries. 6 ounce raspberries or blackberries are 197 each. Limit 3 member price with digital coupon. Hurry in. These deals won't last. Visit safewayoralbertsons.com for more deals and ways to save.

[Narrator/Announcer]

The Adventures of Sam Spade Detective Brought to you by Wild Root Cream Oil Hair tonic, the non alcoholic hair tonic that contains lanolin. Wild Root Cream Oil again and again. The choice of men who put good grooming first.

[Effie]

Sam Spade Detective Agency.

[Sam Spade]

Sam, sweetheart, any calls?

[Effie]

Only one, Sam. Lieutenant Dundee of Homicide. He wants you to drop around so they can get your formal statement.

[Narrator/Announcer]

No.

[Sam Spade]

Hurry. Not now.

[Effie]

He told me what happened, Sam. I'm sorry.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, so am I. I guess he

[Effie]

was one of your oldest friends, wasn't he?

[Sam Spade]

You don't make any friends in this business. Have he? You can write that in your book now and I'll give you the rest of it when I get there.

[Effie]

You sound tired, Sam. Wouldn't you rather just.

[Sam Spade]

What, baby?

[Effie]

Well, go home and, you know, just put it off until tomorrow.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah, maybe I. No, no. I'll get it off my chest tonight. Stay there, Effie. I'll come on down and dictate my report on the Dick Foley caper.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Nigel Hammett, America's leading detective fiction writer and creator of Sam Spade, the Hard Boiled Private Eye, and William Speer, radio's outstanding producer, Director of mystery and crime drama, join their talents to make your hair stand on end with the Adventures of Sam Spade presented by the makers of Wild Root Crew Oil for the hair. No two ways about it, folks. Hair that's well groomed can make all the difference in the world to a person's overall appearance. That's why so many men, women, boys and girls are turning to the famous non alcoholic hair tonic with lanolin Wild Root Cream Oil. Wild Root Cream Oil grooms your hair neatly and naturally relieves dryness, removes loose dandruff. If you haven't tried it before, you'll want to get Wild Root Cream Oil in a new 25 cent get acquainted size. Yes, get Wild Root Cream Oil again and again. The choice of men and women and children, too. And now, with Howard Duff starring as Spade, Wild Root brings to the air the greatest private detective of them all in the Adventures of Sam Spade.

[Sam Spade]

Nuts.

[Effie]

Oh, here, Sam, let me.

[Sam Spade]

Am I that shaky?

[Effie]

Say when.

[Sam Spade]

Just to the top of the glass.

[Effie]

Now, that's enough. You'll spill it.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah.

[Effie]

Sam, what you said over the phone about not making any friends in this business, you didn't really mean that, did you?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Forget it.

[Sam Spade]

You can label this. Oh, file on Dick Foley.

[Ernie Nogales]

Date.

[Sam Spade]

Fill it in.

[Effie]

Yes, sir.

[Sam Spade]

To Dundee at Homicide, I guess. From Samuel sway. License number 137596. The facts are all here. If you can dig a formal statement out of it, you're welcome. I'd known Dick Foley ever since I took out my license. We'd worked several big capers together back in my days as a Continental lot, he and Mickey Linehan and I. Then he and Mickey opened their own office. Foley and Linehan Private Investigations. Five years back, Mickey stopped the slug, and since then, the sign on the door read Dick Foley Detective Agency. I'd seen Dick maybe four or five times in the last half a dozen years just to have a drink and chew the fat about the good old days. He never talked about his private life. I assumed he didn't have any. So when I went to his office day before yesterday in response to his call, I was surprised to find him in a clinch with one of the most beautiful nails I've ever seen.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Oh.

[Dick Foley]

Oh. Oh, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Well, shall I come back after lunch?

[Dick Foley]

Oh, Sam, this is Maxine, my wife.

[Sam Spade]

Well, you don't deserve it, but I'm happy for you.

[Effie]

I'll return the compliment. Sam, I've wanted to meet you for years, but Dick wouldn't introduce me.

[Dick Foley]

Now you know why. Well, you run along, honey. Sam's here on business.

[Effie]

All right, Dick, you can bring Sam home to dinner if you like.

[Dick Foley]

There's plenty if he's not too busy, but don't count on that.

[Effie]

Well, try anyway, won't you, Sam?

[Sam Spade]

I will indeed.

[Effie]

Bye now.

[Dick Foley]

Draw up a chair, Sam. Sit down.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, yeah. What's on your mind there?

[Dick Foley]

You remember Claude Spicer, that grifter I sent over for that jewelry store hike back in 43.

[Sam Spade]

You never told me you were married, Dick.

[Dick Foley]

I'm very happily married. Now, please pay attention.

[Sam Spade]

Claude Spicer. Yeah, yeah, I remember the caper. Wasn't there a dame involved?

[Dick Foley]

Well, Spicer had a girlfriend, but the cops gave her a good bill of health. Spicer went up for a five year stretch. They spun him last month.

[Sam Spade]

Whatever happened to that dame?

[Dick Foley]

Now, look about Spicer.

[Sam Spade]

He gunning for you, you hit it. How? Scared of Maria?

[Dick Foley]

Well, enough to ask you for help, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

What's eating them? Just revenge.

[Dick Foley]

Sam, I wouldn't tell this to anybody but you, but all the facts of that caper didn't come out at that time. I saw to that.

[Sam Spade]

How come?

[Dick Foley]

Well, I couldn't have stayed in business in San Francisco if it had been generally known that my partner was the inside man on that jewelry store heist.

[Sam Spade]

Mickey?

[Dick Foley]

Yeah, Mickey Linehan. Ah, you and I are both great at choosing partners, Sam. They both deserved what they got.

[Sam Spade]

Only one difference. I sent up the killer that plugged my partner. Some people thought the way he gave evidence at Spice's murder trial wasn't so hot.

[Dick Foley]

Well, he was alibi'd, Sam. In fact, the robbery was his alibi for the murder. I don't know how he managed it. I've been trying for five years to figure it out. Spice is afraid I might succeed someday. That's why he's out to get me.

[Sam Spade]

What's he waiting for?

[Dick Foley]

Oh, I don't know. He won't do it simple. He'll have a fancy plan like the other time. He's tricky.

[Sam Spade]

Where's he staying?

[Dick Foley]

At the Belvedere. Here's his mug. I kept a plant in the building for a couple of days, but he stayed holed up in his room. I think he spotted me.

[Sam Spade]

Okay, Deck, I'll give it a buzz.

[Dick Foley]

Now, wait a minute, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah?

[Dick Foley]

I'm not asking you to do this for love. Standard fee, 25 and whiskey money.

[Sam Spade]

Okay, forget it. This one's on. In the elevator on my way out, I studied a picture of Claude Spicer on the old police circular Dick had given me. But a picture in the back of my mind kept getting in the way. It was Dick Foley's wife, Maxine. When I hit the street, I still saw her face before me. And it was no picture, only pretty

[Effie]

as Sam, I waited for you. I've got to talk to you.

[Sam Spade]

My pleasure. Shall we confer in an adjacent cafe?

[Effie]

Wherever you say. Only I don't want Dick to know.

[Sam Spade]

Then you shouldn't have Married a detective?

[Effie]

Please.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Sam.

[Sam Spade]

How's this? Black watch?

[Effie]

Yeah.

[Sam Spade]

Looks dark enough.

[Effie]

Oh, that booth in the corner.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

It's secluded.

[Sam Spade]

Why not slide in? Oh, no. Over here, stupid. Not facing the street.

[Effie]

Sorry. I'm not much good at this sort of thing. Sam, I'm not asking you to tell me what it is, but if he's in really bad trouble, I think I have a right to know.

[Sam Spade]

What makes you think he's in trouble?

[Effie]

Well, I'm not blind. You can't live with a man and not sense it when something goes wrong.

[Sam Spade]

I never thought Dick was the type to show it.

[Effie]

Oh, he's. He's tried to hide it from me, and I haven't said anything. I thought if he wanted me to know, he'd tell me.

[Sam Spade]

It was a wise thought, hold onto it.

[Effie]

Well, I meant to, but then a terrible possibility crossed my mind. Sam, it isn't me, is it?

[Sam Spade]

In what way?

[Effie]

Well, you know what I mean. He's been away from home nights so much lately and he. He questions me so closely about where I go and who I see and so on, and I. Well, I may as well ask you right out. Did he hire you to check up on me? Then that is it?

[Sam Spade]

No.

[Effie]

You're not lying to me, Sam?

[Sam Spade]

Why should I?

[Effie]

Dick says you're almost his oldest friend. He's talked so much about you and

[Sam Spade]

he must have told you. I don't do that type of work.

[Effie]

Why do you keep looking at me?

[Sam Spade]

Sorry. Trying to place you, Maxine. I keep thinking I've seen you someplace before.

[Effie]

Oh, it must have been my picture. I was an actress.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah. Picture. Yeah. Maybe that was it.

[Effie]

Why do you say it like that?

[Sam Spade]

Like what?

[Effie]

As if you were angry with me.

[Sam Spade]

Because I just got the caption on the picture.

[Effie]

Sam, wait.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Come back.

[Sam Spade]

Yes, I had. And the caption was from a newspaper, circa 1943. And it reads, actress Lovely. Cleared in Lanahan slaying. I flashed my tin star at the room. Clerk at the Belvedere learned that Claude Spicer was in and stuck around to make sure the clerk didn't buzz the room to tip him off. Around 4 in the PM Spicer went out, very dressed up, umbrella, gloves and all. He walked down Geary to Grant and turned north. A cold San Francisco drizzle started blowing up from the bay. I wished I'd brought my overcoat. A half a block up from California, he entered Grayson's Jewelry Store. A peek through the Rains Creek show window. After him inside, pawing eagerly through a tray full of diamond clips while A long suffering clerk eyed her hopelessly from his side of the counter. Was the actress lovely? Maxine shot Spicer a quick glance of recognition as he entered, but they didn't speak. He took up a pose of gentlemanly patience, shrugged his eyebrows sympathetically at the clerk and leaned elegant. And his umbrella. While Maxine found fault with every piece of jewelry that was shoved in front of it. The bored expression left his face only once. That was when the clerk opened the vault and brought out some unset stones. Their act may have been fooling the clerk, but it was as plain as the nose on Spice's face. A very plain nose. It was that they were sizing up the joint for a pushover. Maxine left first. He stayed long enough to buy a cigarette lighter and then followed her out. As I took out after him, I stopped to read the sticker on the inside of the glass door. It said, these promises protected by Dick Foley Detective Agency. Maxine was waiting for him at the corner. I grabbed up a Chinese newspaper and used it to listen behind. But I needn't have bothered. They didn't seem to care. Well, are you happy? Ought to be about a million bucks.

[Effie]

Why are you so disagreeable? You ought to be feeling good.

[Sam Spade]

Feeling good?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Five years I come out to find

[Sam Spade]

my girl married to the joker that sent me up.

[Effie]

You didn't think it was such a bad idea at the time.

[Sam Spade]

Well, I do now. Well, after tonight, we'll go east. You and me together, baby.

[Effie]

He'll catch up with us wherever we go.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, he shouldn't live so long.

[Effie]

How do you mean that?

[Sam Spade]

Just like it sounds, baby. Bye.

[Effie]

Oh, don't leave.

[Sam Spade]

I'm gonna get some sleep. I'll need a clear head.

[Effie]

Claude, I. I don't want to be alone.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, not even tonight?

[Effie]

I don't want to be alone.

[Sam Spade]

See you later, honey.

[Ernie Nogales]

Bye.

[Sam Spade]

Bye. He went straight back to the Belvedere. No stops. Picked up his key at the desk, no messages. Took the elevator to the eighth floor, let himself into room 809, hung out the Do Not Disturb sign, closed, and locked the door behind him. I kept a plan on it till around midnight. Then I lifted the Do Not Disturb car from the doorknob and wedged it into the crack of the door. It was a crafty move, and I had just finished doing it craftily when the door opened again in my face. Huh? Who are you? What are you doing here? Nothing, sir. I. I'm making a survey.

[Ernie Nogales]

What?

[Sam Spade]

I'm from the Trotter Pole. Trotter Pole? It's like the gallop pole, but we're not in so much of a hurry. Yeah, Just kindly answer this question as a Democrat. Do you believe Dewey? Huh? I picked up the do not disturb card and wedged it back into the crack of his door, as any house dick knows. Except, of course, Tiny Stover, the night peeper at the Belvedere. If anybody opens the door like that, the card will fall out and somebody will always hang it on the knob. Another thing Tiny doesn't know is never to draw to an inside straight. We played nine different kinds of poker until 5am when I thought I'd go up and have another look. All was quiet on the 8th floor. From the elevator bank I could see room 809. The morning paper was shoved under his door, and my do not disturb sign was apparently where I had planted it. I tiptoed up to make sure. Huh? Who are you? What do you want? Me? The paper boy, Sir. Your morning paper. You get around. Well, well. Good news in the paper, sir. Interesting. Interesting. Jewelry store heist up on Grant Avenue. Oh, yes, sir. Our paper only comes what? I grabbed the paper from under 805. It was the headline I could have expected if Spicer had left his room without my knowing it. Grayson's Jewelry Store, the shop he and Maxine had cased that afternoon, had been taken for an estimated million bucks in uncut gems. But Spicer's door hadn't been opened and there was no other exit. I sat down and thought, and what I thought of was that sticker on the front door of Grayson's said, these promises protected by Dick Foley Detective Agency. When the 6am Oakland Ferryboat fell its way blindly out of the slip, Claude Spicer was aboard, and so was I. Should have been getting lighter, but it wasn't. The fog was thickening over the harbor and most of the passengers were inside drinking coffee. Spicer didn't go in. He climbed up to the boat deck and stood at the rail under the pilot's house. I planted between two wet paint signs and waited. Not for long. I couldn't make out any features on the man who came up and joined them. They stood face to face, not more than a foot apart, and talked in voices that couldn't get to me through the racket of the foghorns in the harbor. What spoke loud enough for me to hear was a gun. They seemed to fall into each other's arms, then collapsed in a heap on the deck. When I got to the spot, only the dead one was there. It was Spicer the other man had disappeared around the corner of the deck house. A ray of light from the pilot's window swept over him and I saw gunmetal shine in his hand and then spin out over the rail as he threw it.

[Dick Foley]

What? Oh, it's you, Sam. I was afraid you'd lost him.

[Sam Spade]

What did you do it for, Dick?

[Dick Foley]

I had my reason, Sam. Now trust me. I'll keep you in the clear.

[Sam Spade]

How long? As long as I go on playing sucker for you.

[Dick Foley]

What do you think I hired you for?

[Sam Spade]

Maybe I was supposed to say you killed him in self defense. Maybe I was supposed to see him making passes at your wife if you needed that.

[Dick Foley]

But Sam, you've got.

[Sam Spade]

I've worked for killers before. I've even worked for thieves. But not for a detective that knocks over a place he's supposed to be protecting.

[Dick Foley]

Sam, it's not a.

[Sam Spade]

Save it for the cops, Dick. I'm turning you in when we get to Oak.

[Dick Foley]

No, you're not, Sam.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Then come back here.

[Ernie Nogales]

Let go me.

[Dick Foley]

I'm going over the side. If you try to stop me, you're going with me.

[Sam Spade]

He fought away from me, got one foot over the rail and kicked out at me with the other. It caught me on the point of the chin. I stumbled forward and grabbed offline. I must have caught him by the belt just as he jumped. I remember something pulling me halfway over the rail and trying to get free of it. I did, but not soon enough. I was in midair and the black water came rushing up to meet me.

[Narrator/Announcer]

The makers of Wild Root Cream oil are presenting the weekly Sunday adventure of Dashiell Hammett's famous private detective, Sam Spade. Now here's important news on good grooming. If you want the well groomed look that helps you get ahead socially and on the job, Listen. Recently, thousands of people from coast to coast who bought wild Root Cream Oil for the first time were asked, how does wild Root cream oil compare with the hair tonic you previously used? The results were amazing. Better than four out of five who replied said they preferred wild Root cream oil. Remember, non alcoholic wild root cream oil contains lanolin. It grooms the hair naturally, relieves dryness and removes loose, ugly dandruff. So if you want your hair to be more attractive than ever before, get the generous new 25 cent size of Wild Root Cream Oil, America's leading hair tonic. On sale at all drug and toilet goods counters. It's also available in larger economy bottles and the handy new tube. Get Wild Root Cream Oil again and again. The choice of men and women and children too, by the way, smart girls use wild root cream oil too and mothers say it's grand for training children's hair. And now back to the Dick Foley caper. Tonight's adventure with Sam Spade.

[Sam Spade]

I found myself mechanically keeping afloat somehow and trying to get out of my coat. I felt heavy and logged, as if I'd swallowed gallons of water. The murk hung low and thick. There was nothing else to be seen anywhere. I swallowed what felt like several more gallons before I got rid of the coat. From out of the misty fog blanket, from every direction in a dozen different keys. From near and far, foghorns sounded. I stopped swimming and floated on my back, trying to determine my whereabouts. After a while I picked out the moaning. Evenly spaced blasts of the Alcatraz siren. But they came out of the fog without direction. Seemed to beat down on me from straight above. I was somewhere in San Francisco Bay and that was all I knew. And I suspected the current was sweeping me out toward the Golden Gate. Then a light came up ahead of me. Suddenly, a boat passing a few yards away. I lifted my head and screamed. But the boat siren crying its warning drowned out my shouts. Went on past and the fog closed in behind it. Then I heard a new sound. Seagulls. I swam towards it and it seemed to get lighter. Part of it was the dawn light beginning to cut through the fog blanket. But there was also a strange looking man standing on the water and waving a green lantern back and forth. I yelled at him to wait for me and a seagull got off his hat and flew away. When I got closer, I saw that it was not a man, but only a buoy channel type. I used all the strength I had left to drag myself up in the base of it and let it rock me to sleep. Hey. Hey, me.

[Dick Foley]

Pour some more of the brandy into him, Ghost.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah. Here, get some of this done. Where are we? Hey, it didn't happen. You can tell that by the smell. Oh, Fisherman's Wharf. Yeah, take it easy. We got ambulance coming. You're going to the hospital. No, no, no. I'll be okay. Give me a hand. Yeah, okay. Hey, you, do us a favor, will you? Don't fall down till you get out

[Ernie Nogales]

of sight this time.

[Sam Spade]

We're tired of picking you up. I thanked the two kindly old fisher folk for their interest in my welfare. Tottered up the pier, fell into a taxi and went home. While I soaked out some of my aches and pains and chills, I did some stewing about the caper so far. And stewed up enough anger to carry me through to the finish. I checked the Coast Guard for news of Dick Foley. They told me his body hadn't been recovered yet. I got dressed and went over to his office. The cops hadn't been there. They went through the file cabinet. And what I found on the Foley private had me so interested that I didn't hear Maxine come in until she closed the door.

[Effie]

What are you looking for?

[Sam Spade]

You, baby. I'm for you.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Come here.

[Effie]

Oh, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Nice.

[Effie]

Oh, you dirty.

[Sam Spade]

Now, don't be mad, Maxine. A gun makes a woman bulge in the wrong place.

[Effie]

It's not my gun.

[Sam Spade]

We'll see.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Sam.

[Sam Spade]

Shut up. Now, starting with the rap. Spicer went up for the same pattern. The way you worked this one tells me how you worked it. The first time you get something on a private detective. The first time? Five years ago. It was Dick's partner, Mickey Linehan. I don't know what Spicer had on him, but I do know he forced Dick to knock over Grayson's jewelry store last night.

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

I won't listen to you.

[Sam Spade]

Okay, I'll talk to myself. I'm not saying you killed Mickey Linehan. But Dick did frame an alibi for you, didn't he? Didn't he?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Oh, you're hurting me.

[Sam Spade]

Good. Try spending a night swimming around in circles in the middle of the harbor sometime. See how you like that.

[Effie]

All right. It's true. Dick did help me out of that old jam. I'm not ashamed of it. I'm proud. Our love was that important to him.

[Sam Spade]

Now, Spicer, that same old double cross. Only this time I'm standing where Dick did five years ago. Dick was set up as a patsy, the same way Mickey Lanahan was. But he got smart and pulled the trigger first.

[Effie]

Stop it.

[Sam Spade]

Stop it. Where did that hurt, you fool?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

I love Dick. Yeah, I loved him.

[Effie]

That's something you can't understand, but it

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

happens that way no matter what people are.

[Sam Spade]

You sound as if you really mean that. But you're a little late, aren't you?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

He's not dead. I'm sure he isn't.

[Sam Spade]

If he's not, he's really in trouble.

[Effie]

What do you mean by that?

[Sam Spade]

I found something here in the files that Dick left just in case Spicer got to him first.

[Effie]

What is it?

[Sam Spade]

A confession to Mickey Linehan's murder.

[Effie]

That's impossible.

[Sam Spade]

Were you there?

[Effie]

What are you gonna do with it?

[Sam Spade]

Turn it over to the police. But if he's still alive, it still counts. Unless he shows and Revokes it, but I don't think he will.

[Effie]

Why?

[Sam Spade]

Because I won't back up a self defense plea on the spice of shooting.

[Effie]

But you were Dick's friend. You were his friend.

[Sam Spade]

I wouldn't ask him to do it for me.

[Effie]

Then what can I do for him? I'll do anything. Anything? Anything at all.

[Sam Spade]

Well, if he stays away, he's as good as dead. If he comes back, you'll get a jury trial. And if there are more men than women in the panel, he'd probably be acquitted on your testimony alone.

[Effie]

Do you really think he might have a chance?

[Sam Spade]

With a jury, there's always a chance.

[Effie]

But where is he? How can I get word to him?

[Sam Spade]

Well, if he's not fish food by now, there's one sure way of smoking him out. Something I can do, nobody else.

[Effie]

Please, tell me. Anything.

[Sam Spade]

Sign a confession of your own.

[Effie]

Confession?

[Sam Spade]

Not Mickey Linehan's murder or anything they might nail you for. Swear that you shot Spicer. You can always reneg. Make both of you look good sacrificing for each other. How about it?

[Effie]

All right. Tell me what to write.

[Sam Spade]

I did. She signed it. I had Effie dispatch it to all the papers and news services, and then I brought it down to the hall. Naturally, you didn't believe a word of her confession, Dundee. But when I took you aside and explained my stratagem, you endorsed it. Hardly. And had her booked. She pressed my hand and thanked me. The look of resignation on her face was so real, it was hard to believe she was faking. When she turned her back to follow the matron down the corridor, I saw why. On the back of her coat there was a smear of white paint. I remembered the what? The wet paint signs on the Oakland Ferry boat. Dick Foley gave himself up an hour after her confession. Hit the street, screamed and yelled at everybody in Homicide, trying to convince them that Maxine was innocent and he should take the. But I'm afraid I queered that when we confronted him with the autopsy surgeon's report, he tried to bluff even then when he read it.

[Dick Foley]

Pellet A, entered right side between third and fourth ribs, penetrated left lung. Pellet B, pleuromembrane side wound, punctured. Well, so what, Sam?

[Sam Spade]

All three on the right side angling up, you see?

[Dick Foley]

No. I don't know why you even saw me on that boat. You saw me throw the gun over.

[Sam Spade]

Oh, cut it out, Dick. What I saw was in the dark. But you two men were facing each other directly. If I were gonna drop a man fast at Close range, face to face like that. I would not put the gun in my left hand, twist it around, straining my wrist in the process and pull the trigger with my thumb. Unless I were left handed, double jointed and a trickier shot than you are. I'd blast them straight through the middle.

[Dick Foley]

All right. All right. Yes, it was Maxine.

[Sam Spade]

Well, that's good. Maybe you can get cured. Now. Why don't you open up some more? Let me put it down like it was business.

[Dick Foley]

All right, sir.

[Sam Spade]

Number one. Maxine killed your partner, Mickey Linehan, five years ago. Probable motive to eliminate him and send Spicer up for it.

[Dick Foley]

Yeah, she. She didn't figure on Spicer being smart enough to confess to the robbery and that alibi him for the murder.

[Sam Spade]

Two, you perjured yourself to clear Mac. Scene of the murder, motive to prevent the truth about your partner from coming out, and Maxine, who was motive enough for anything.

[Dick Foley]

Cut it out, will you?

[Lorraine Kilcorse]

Sorry.

[Sam Spade]

Three, Spicer forced you to team up with him in the jewelry heist. How?

[Dick Foley]

Well, he threatened to make a full confession as accessory to Mickey's killing. I would have put the whole works on Maxine and leave him in the clear.

[Sam Spade]

Yeah. Can't be tried twice for the same crime. Four, you decided to rub out Spicer whether you could beat the rap or not and clear the books once and for all. So you pretended to play along with him, told Maxine to do the same and called me in a zumpire. Yeah.

[Dick Foley]

Yeah, I'm. Sam. I'm sorry, I. Why couldn't you lay off Maxine? Why did you have to? Oh, I thought you were my friend.

[Sam Spade]

And that's about it, period. End the friendship.

[Effie]

Oh, you mean the confession that you tricked her into making turned out to that said Effie. Oh, what'll happen to him? What about Dick Foley?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Dick?

[Sam Spade]

Well, they got him on a number of things, I suppose. May take some time out of him, but I think he'll be an okay

[Effie]

guy again with her out of the way.

[Sam Spade]

With her out of the way. Sam, go and type it up, will ya? It's late. I'm gonna get out of here.

[Narrator/Announcer]

And now listen to this. When it comes to hair tonics, the best friend of the family is wild root cream oil. Wild root cream oil grooms the hair neatly and naturally relieves dryness, removes loose dandruff. Now you can get America's leading hair tonic in the new 25 cent get acquainted size. Also, ask your barber for a professional application of Wild root cream oil hair tonic again and again. The choice of Men and women and children too.

[Effie]

Well, here it is. Sam, I know how you must feel, so I won't.

[Sam Spade]

What's your hurry?

[Effie]

Well, I thought. Well, you know, how you always feel.

[Sam Spade]

Look, sweetheart, Dick Foley was a private dick. So what?

[Effie]

You mean you can bring yourself to talk about it?

[Sam Spade]

Sure, go ahead. Try me.

[Effie]

Well, assignment seems terribly complicated, I suppose because Mr. Foley was in the profession and thinks like you do.

[Sam Spade]

Up to a point. Effie, what's bothering you?

[Effie]

Well, why did he call you in? You another private detective. And he knew how smart you are and all.

[Sam Spade]

And, I don't know, maybe he thought, well, if I turned up anything, I'd look the other way.

[Effie]

Do you think that could ever happen to you, Sam? That's a clever phrase you dictated. He called me in a zampire. That's baseball. But if he was so clever, why didn't he win? Sam?

[Sam Spade]

His mistake. Evie was trying a quadruple play which has never been heard of in the history of baseball or crime. All he wanted was to bat Maxine home safe. But it usually figures when three men are out the side retires.

[Effie]

Oh, well, I don't understand baseball, Sam.

[Sam Spade]

That's all right. Football will be here soon anyway.

[Effie]

But I don't know.

[Sam Spade]

Good night, Libby. Good night, sweetheart.

[Narrator/Announcer]

The Adventures of Sam Spade, Ashell Hammett's famous private detective are produced and directed by William Spears. Sam Spade is played by Howard Duff. Loreen Tuttle is Effie. The Adventures of Sam Spade are written for radio by Bob Tallman and Gil Dowd. Musical direction by Lud Gluskin with score composed by Renee Garaghan. Join us again next Sunday when author Dashiell Hammett and producer William Speer join forces for another adventure with Sam Spade, brought to you by Wild Root Cream Oil. Again and again, the choice of men who put good grooming first. This is Dick Joy reminding you to get Wild Root Cream oil, Charlie. It keeps your hair in trim. You see, it's non alcoholic, Charlie. It's made with soothing lanolin. You better get Wild Root Cream Oil, Charlie. Start using it today. You'll find that you will have a tough time, Charlie, keeping all the gals away. Hiya, baldies. Get wild root right away. This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System.

[Sam Spade]

Thanks for joining us here at 1001

[Narrator/Announcer]

radio crime solvers for the Adventures of

[Sam Spade]

Sam Spade Private Detective. We bring new episodes every Sunday at noon Eastern time and Wednesday at 5pm Eastern Time.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Until our next show, everyone stay safe and we'll be back soon.

[Safeway/Albertsons Advertiser]

Safeway and Albertsons have made saving easier than ever with great savings on family favorites this week at Safeway and Albertsons. USDA Choice Beef, boneless, tri tip, whole or flank and style ribs bone in our $6.99 per pound member price and asparagus or $1.99 per pound member price plus 16 ounce strawberries, 6 ounce raspberries or blackberries are 197 each. Limit 3 member price with digital coupon. Hurry in. These deals won't last. Visit safewayoralbertsons.com for more deals and ways to save.